Time Estimating Game

ABSTRACT

A game of estimating time can have multiple players competing against each other. The players can be provided with buzzers. The players are challenged to estimate a designated time interval. At the interval of time estimated by the person to be equal to the designated time interval the player actuates his buzzer. The buzzer can be signal-connected to a timer, which functions to display how close the estimated time interval of the player is to the designated time interval. Alternately a secret designated time interval is communicated to the players by the sounding of two buzzer sounds and the players have to estimate the length of the time interval that occurred between the buzzer sounds.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/025,214, filed Jan. 31, 2008.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method of playing a game involving a groupof people. Specifically, the invention relates to a method of playing agame wherein players compete based on their accuracy of time estimation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An ability to estimate time can be a useful skill when a time keepingdevice is not available or practical. A quarterback in football needs tobe able to estimate the time it takes a receiver to do a particularpattern in order to judge where to target the throw. It would also beadvantageous for a lifeguard at a swimming pool to know when a swimmermight be underwater for too long. It would be advantageous for askydiver to be able to effectively estimate a given time period in orderto land safely if a watch failed. It would also be advantageous to beable to estimate cooking time in the kitchen if the starting of a timerwas forgotten or if an initial observation of a start time on a clockwas forgotten.

Many people do not practice their ability to estimate time. The use oftime keeping devices, such as clocks, cellular phones, and computers hasreduced the need for time estimation ability. Accurate time estimatingrequires great concentration and mental discipline.

Games are a popular recreational activity. A game can include manypeople in an enjoyable social activity where it otherwise would bedifficult. Additionally, games can create a friendly way to includecompetition in the social activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a game of estimating time that isentertaining to players and spectators. The game can have multipleplayers competing against each other or as teams.

The players can be isolated in booths or rooms, or by operation of thegame rules, and have no access to a time keeping device. Booths can bemade vision-proof and sound proof, to prevent a spectator or teammate,depending on the rules, from assisting a player to estimate time.

The person who is playing the game can be provided with a time intervalstopping device such as a buzzer or other signaling device. The playeris challenged to estimate the length of a pre-selected or designatedtime interval. An actual time interval is started and the person thenwaits and, without aid of a time keeping device, actuates the buzzer toend the actual interval of time at the time when the person estimatesthat the length of the actual time interval is equal to the length ofthe designated time interval. The buzzer can be signal-connected to atimer, which functions to display how close the estimated time intervalof the player is to the designated time interval. The buzzer can emit asound when pressed. This sound and timer can inform spectators and otherplayers what time interval the person competing has estimated comparedto the designated time interval. The timer is not visible to the playersduring the time estimating step.

Another variation of the game can provide that after a start signal froman annunciating device, a stop signal from an annunciating device can becommunicated to the player after a pre-selected or randomly generatedinterval of time. The start and/or stop signal can be the sound of thebuzzer. At the sound, the player must estimate the time interval elapsedbetween the start and stop signals.

One possible rule of the game can be to accurately estimate thedesignated time interval without the estimate being greater than theparticular time interval.

According to one version of the game, the first step of the game is todetermine who the players will be. If there are many people the playerscan be decided by a random selection. If the game is taking place withina small group then everyone can participate in turn.

The second step of the game is to prepare the players for the estimationof time. The players are instructed to remove all time keeping devices,i.e. watches, cellular phones, personal organizers, etc. The players areplaced into sound-proof and vision proof, isolating booths, or the like.If an audience is present and the players are not in sound-proof andvision proof, isolating booths it is to be understood that the audiencecannot interact with the players through physical gestures, noise, orapplause.

The third step of the game is to select, perhaps by a random selection,a time interval to be estimated by the player and inform the player.

The fourth step of the game is to start the timer, the start, but notthe timer, observed by the player. The player hits the buzzer when theplayer estimates the designated time interval has elapsed.

In another embodiment of the game, the buzzer is triggered after asecret predetermined interval after the timer is started, the start, butnot the timer, under observation by the player. The player must estimatethe elapsed time interval between the start of the timer and the soundof the buzzer.

In the first embodiment, the buzzer sounds when the player has pushedit, stopping the timer, the scoreboard displaying the player's estimatedtime interval against the pre-selected designated time interval. In thesecond embodiment, the buzzer sounds involuntarily, showing thepre-selected designated time interval and the player's estimated timeinterval.

Variations of the game can include quantitative questions about time.Such questions can include the time of sunset or sunrise in a particularcity, or what the actual, instantaneous time of the day is.

According to one variation of the game, the player who is the mostaccurate to the designated time interval without exceeding thedesignated time interval receives higher score points. For example, ifthe answer is 2 minutes and player A estimates the time was 2 minutesand 1 second and player B estimates the time to be 1 minute, player B isthe winner. However, if all contestants estimate a time interval greaterthan the designated time interval then the player with the lowestestimated time interval is the winner.

The time estimating method of the invention provides an entertaininggame that is adaptable as a home game or as a broadcast television gameshow.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention willbecome readily apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanyingdrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein indetail, specific embodiments of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit theinvention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

The game of the invention is particularly adaptable as a television gameshow. The game provides a studio audience a chance to compete for cashor other prizes tied to the estimation of time.

Random selections of contestants from the studio audience would be madewhereby several (probably 4-6) contestants are led to individualisolation booths visible to the studio and TV audience. All articlesthat keep time would be removed from each contestant and the contestantswould not be able to interact with one another, nor would they be ableto see or hear anything outside of their booth.

They are asked to actuate a stopping device, such as pressing a buzzer,when they believe exactly “T” seconds have elapsed, such as 30 seconds.The value of “T” could vary up or down depending on how the show timesitself out relative to the time slot it receives from the televisionnetwork. The person who comes closest to this time interval withoutexceeding wins and then is thereby selected to compete against the otherwinners this particular game show produces.

A timing device similar to those used in Olympic competition would bevisible to the TV and studio audience which would add to the suspense,but all noise, applause, physical gestures etc. from the audience wouldnot be able to be seen or heard by any of the contestants. The fullaudience (TV and studio) would have full access to how each contestantscored.

There should be an opportunity to have about 4 groups, as describedabove, selected with each group going through the same game and timelines.

The pace can to be very fast and the selection of contestants random.

Once the winner from each group is determined they go up against eachother as one final group for the show. Thus if there were four groupsthere would be four finalists. This final group would fill in the restof the show such that the eliminations continue with a single personbeing eliminated after each challenge.

At this final game show level of competition, the time challenges becomemore difficult. If the 1^(st) round was set for 30 seconds then thisround should be more than 30 seconds. Subsequently, other challengesconcerning time could also be introduced including, but not limited to,the following, quantitative, example questions:

What time is sunset this evening in Chicago, Ill.?

When is sunrise today in Fairbanks, Ala.?

What is the exact time right now (meaning exactly when the contestantanswers)?

Each level of completion would have a winner. If all contestants wentover the time allotted or exceeded the time of the answer the personwith the closest answer would advance. Thus if the correct answer forwhat time is sunrise today is 7:00 am and someone answered 6:00 am thatperson would win over someone who answered 7:01.

Each show would have a champion and that person automatically advancesto the next show's final round. Thus if there are 4 first round winnerson each show there would always be a 5^(th) contestant going up againstthem. This carryover contestant would be eligible to win greater amountsof cash/prizes as they continue to win.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations andmodifications may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation withrespect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended orshould be inferred.

1. A method of playing a game based on estimating an interval of time,comprising the steps of: starting a time interval when an annunciatingdevice has indicated that the time interval has started, and stoppingthe time interval when the annunciating device has indicated that thetime interval has stopped; monitoring the annunciating device and,without the aid of a time keeping device, estimating the length of thetime interval; comparing the estimated length of the time interval withthe actual length of the time interval; and awarding a score at leastpartly based on the closeness of the estimated length and the actuallength.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein plural playersmonitor the annunciating device and compete by estimating the length ofthe time interval, wherein players are penalized for estimating lengthsof the time interval that are greater than the actual length of the timeinterval.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein plural playersmonitor the annunciating device and compete by estimating the length ofthe time interval and wherein the plural players are isolated from eachother.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein plural playersmonitor the annunciating device and compete by estimating the length ofthe time interval, wherein the player of the plural players whoseestimate of the length of the time interval is closest to the actuallength of the time interval is the winner.
 5. The method as claimed inclaim 1, wherein plural players monitor the annunciating device andcompete by estimating the length of the time interval, and wherein astudio audience is present during the game and monitors the estimationby the players.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the game isrecorded and broadcast to be watched by a television audience.
 7. Themethod as claimed in claim 6, wherein a random selection of studioaudience members comprises the plural players of the game.
 8. The methodas claimed in claim 6, wherein the annunciating device comprises abuzzer, and said buzzer is connected to a timer that is visible to thestudio audience but not to the plural players.
 9. A method of playing agame based on estimating an interval of time, comprising the steps of:providing to at least one player a pre-selected length of a target timeinterval; starting an actual time interval when an annunciating devicehas indicated that the actual time interval has started; and the playermonitors the start of the actual time interval and, without the aid of atime keeping device, uses a stopping device to stop the actual timeinterval at a time of the player's choice when the player estimates thatthe actual time interval has a length equal to the length of the targettime interval; and awarding a score at least partly based on thecloseness of the length of the actual time interval and the pre-selectedlength of the target time interval.
 10. The method as claimed in claim9, wherein plural players monitor the annunciating device and compete byusing stopping devices to stop the actual time interval at a time ofeach player's choice when that player estimates that the actual timeinterval has a length equal to the length of the target time interval.11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein plural players monitor theannunciating device and compete by using stopping devices to stop theactual time interval at a time of each player's choice when that playerestimates that the actual time interval has a length equal to the lengthof the target time interval, wherein the plural players are isolatedfrom each other.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein pluralplayers monitor the annunciating device and compete by using stoppingdevices to stop the actual time interval at a time of each player'schoice when that player estimates that the actual time interval has alength equal to the length of the target time interval, wherein theplayer of the plural players whose actual length of the time interval isclosest to the target length of the time interval is the winner.
 13. Themethod as claimed in claim 9, wherein plural players monitor theannunciating device and compete by using stopping devices to stop theactual time interval at a time of each player's choice when that playerestimates that the actual time interval has a length equal to the lengthof the target time interval, wherein a studio audience is present duringthe game and monitors the use of the stopping devices by the players.14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the game is recorded andbroadcast to be watched by a television audience.
 15. The method asclaimed in claim 14, wherein a random selection of studio audiencemembers comprises the plural players of the game.
 16. The method asclaimed in claim 14, wherein the stopping devices comprise buzzers, andeach said buzzer is connected to a timer that is visible to the studioaudience but not to the plural players.